Panoramic apparatus



W. E. SAXE.

PANORAMIC APPARATUS,

APPucATloN HL'ED 0cT.21.19|6.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

W. E. SAXE.

PANOBAMIC APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 2|. 1916.

PatentedNOv. 2,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VALTER E. SAXE, OF INGLEJVOOD, CALIFORNIA.

PANORAMIVC APPARATUS.

navman.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. .2, 19.20.

Application filed October 21, 1916. Serial No. 126,800.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, lVaL'rnR E; SAXE, a citizen or the United States, residing at nglewood, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panoramic Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in cycloramic and panoramic mechanisms, in which a traveling back ground, pictorial scene, or curtain device is employed, means being arranged 'for moving the scene at any desired speed, for changing the scenic back ground for a pictorial representation of any kind. The mechanism is particularly adapted and designed for the production of a traveling back ground or scenic curtain, especially useful in connection with certain moving picture productions, and is also especially usei'ul in connection with a traveling floor, or support of any kind, whereby the moving elements of the picture to be produced, as for instance, persons, animals, vehicles, can be made to appear to move, while the camera or moving picture machine is stationary. lV ith the moving features of the picture operating on a traveling floor, and with a traveling back ground behind them, the same result can be obtained before a stationary camera, as if the camera were moved at the same rate of speed as the moving features of the picture would have to move, if the traveling iloor and traveling back ground, or scenic curtain were not employed. Of course, a better picture results where the camera does not have to be moved and arred.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a traveling scenic curtain,iand a traveling support therefor. Y

It is a further object of the invention to provide an endless panoramic curtain for representing a moving back ground, and to provide the same with a traveling edge support.

It is still a further object ot' the invention to provide a traveling cycloramic curtain, and a driving means for movably supporting the same.

llt is still a further object of the invention to provide a traveling back ground or scenery curtain, adapted to be carried by stretching and curtain holding members, guiding means being provided for said members, a traveling belt being also provided or the members to rest upon, whereby they are supported and also driven for moving the said curtain.

VVlth these and other objects in view, the

invention comprises certain novel construc-V tions, combinations, and arrangements or parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a cycloramic curtain constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion thereof being broken away to reveal some of the interior structure.

F ig. 2 is an end elevation of the said mechanism.

F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one end of the mechanism, the section being taken above the lower sprocket wheel which carries the lower sprocket chain of the device.

' Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view through a portion ci the panoramic curtain device, showing one of the curtain holding members or bars, and means for moving and guiding the same, intermediate portions of said bar being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of one of the lower sprocket wheels showing the engagement thereof, with the sprocket chain, which is connected with the curtain carrying slats or bars.

The device oi' the present invention is de-l signed for the production of movable scenic effects, and is particularly useful in connection with the taking of moving pictures of moving objects, when it is desired to have the camera or moving picture machine stationary, while the moving or traveling objects are given the appearance of moving at a greater or less speed, as by means or" a traveling floor or other moving supporting surface, the scenery or back ground being also caused to move simultaneously at any desired rate of speed to carry out the proper eltect. rThe drawing illustrates one practical means of carrying into eiiect the invention, and the features of the invention will 1 now be more particularly described, reference being had-.to the illustration.

In the drawings, 5 indicates a base frame mounted on standards or supports 6 at any desired height. Movably mounted on the said frame is a traveling belt 7, preferably endless, andmoving over a series of supporting rollers 8 carried by the horizontal portion of the said base frame 5. The said rollers are mounted upon any suitable bearings 9, carried by pairs of longitudinally arranged beams 10 of the said main :trame 5. Each of the said rollers 8 may be provided with short shafts 1l, the ends of which project sufficiently beyond the rollers on each side tov afford suitable journals for engaging the said journal bearings 9. The rollers 8 are arranged suiiiciently close together to cause the belt to extend horizontally from roller to roller. The belt 7 is guided near the ends of the frame by rollers 12, from y which the belt passes around vertical transversely arranged pulleys or drums 13 and lll, there being one on each end of the frame, the belt making a quarter turn in passing from each of the rollers 12 to the said pulley or drums 13. By this arrangement, an endless belt may be employed, a front lap traveling in one direction while the rear lap travels in the opposite direction.

The belt thus arranged and given a continuous movementin any suitable manner, aiords a continuous traveling support and frictional driving means for the cycloramic or panoramic curtain, andV the structure upon which the same is stretched, the curtainthus receiving` its movement only from the frictional engagement of its stretching and hold` ing members, the curtain structure being arranged to have an edgewise engagement with The belt is prefer- Y ably driven by power 1n any desired man` .the two laps of the belt.

ner. VT he pulley 1a is mounted upon a shaft 15 to which is fixed another pulley 16. The said pulley V16 is connected by suitable belting 17 directly or indirectly with any suitable electric or other motor, or proper source oit power, not shown.

' In order to keep the driving belt 7 taut at all times, the pulley 13 vis mounted in adjustable bearings at 18. vAdjusting abutment screws 19 are adapted to force the said journals downwardly" for taking up any slack in the belt, and holding the pulley 18 in proper position to maintain the necessar tautness of the belt.

Rising from the hase frame 5 is a` suitable Vframe 20, which is carried to any suitable height Vto accommodate the traveling curtain orVV scenic background, The curtain mechanism is mounted within this frame, in which its movement'is guided, the curtain struc-v ture, however, resting and traveling except at the ends upon the belt 7. The curtain 21 may be made of any desired material, as for instance,a canvas or duck ot'any suitable quality, which is adapted :tor having scenery painted thereon. 'The said curtain is stretchedV upon and carried by a series of upright or vertical barsV 22, made long enough to extend a short distance above and below the edges of the curtain 21. The cur-v tain is tacked or otherwise secured to the bar 22, a fastening of this or other suitable kind being sufficient if applied at the upper and lower edges of the curtain. The bars are secured to endless sprocket chains 23 and 24, near the top and bottom of the curtain respectively. The said sprocket chains may be of any usual or ordinary type, and en- Y gage the peripheries of sprocket wheels 25 ing members 32 and 33, which project from the lower and upper ends thereof, with surficient distance beyond theends ot the bars to have the sprocket chains 23 and 2&1 positively lsecured thereto. T he oiiiset arrangement of the pieces or members 32 and 33 make it possible to have the pitch of Vthe sprocket wheels 25 and 26, approximately coincide with the curvature of the curtain at the ends of its laps. The pitch of the said sprocket chains, however,V is made slightly greater than the radius of the semi cylindric Curves made by the curtain at each end of the structure, so that any strain which might come upon the curtain in turning at the endsof the structure will be avoided. Theloiver ends oi the bars 22 are fastened to supporting slices 34, preferably Y by means of angle plates 35, which are bolt` ed to the shoes 34, and have their upright portions lapped uponand securely fastened to the lower ends of the oilset piece or inember 32, as will be clearly understood by reterence to F ig. il, oi the dra-wing. The shoes 34 may be of any desired material, but are preferably made of approximately oblong rectangular blocks of wood, the ends of which may be slightly rounded at their lower corners as shown in the Fig. 1, of the drawing. T he said blocks are made or' sufficient length to come reasonably close together at their ends, without danger of their interfering with each other. l Y Y The said blocks are made nearly as long as the distance between the points where the belt 7 touches and restsupon the peripheries of adjacent rollers 8, so there is notendency for sagging orn the belt underY the weight of the curtain above, and of the bars whichv Vmanner. Since the front and back laps of.

the belt travel inV opposite directions, and

the shoes 34 must pass from one to the other at the ends of the apparatus, the rollers l2 over which the ends of the belt travel are depressed sufficiently below the adjacent rollers 8, to disengage the belt from the shoes at points substantially opposite the shafts 2 and 28. rl`he bars 22 will be supported at the ends of the apparatus in passing from one belt to the other by the sprocket chains 23 and 24, as they pass around the sprocliet wheels 25 and 26. Any friction between the bar supporting shoes 34 in passing from one lap of belt 7 to the other, is thus entirely obviated. At all points between the two shafts 27 and 28, however, the intermediate weight of the curtain structure rests upon and is carried by the traveling belt, and the engagement between said belt and curtain structure is found ample in practice, to make it possible to drive the curtain at vany desired speed. The bars 22 in addition to passing around the sprocket wheels 25 and 26 at the ends of the apparatus, are further braced and guided at intermediate points by engaging the peripheries of intermediate pulleys 36 mounted upon and carried by the said shafts 2T and 28 at any suitable Vpoints thereon. The straight portions of the laps of the said curtain structure, are guided by longitudinally arranged guide members 37 and 38 mounted upon the main frame 5, and receiving the lower ends of the .bars 22 between them. Similar guide members 39 and 40 engage the members 33V and sprocket chain at the top of the apparatus frame, as shown in detail in Fig. 4.

The frame carrying the traveling curtain is also provided with means for taking up any slack therein, and for keeping the same suiliciently taut to present a smooth surface for the bach ground or scenery. One end of the upper frame has mounted therein a movable frame 4l, which is mounted upon wheels 42 carried by transverse shafts 43. T he wheels are preferably of the flanged type, and rest on longitudinal bars or beams 44 mounted in the frame 5, below the beams which support the rollers 8. The shaft 28 is mounted upon the movable frame 41, so that by moving the said frame 4l toward the adjacent end of the main frame, the curtain structure may be kept taut as will be readily understood. The journal bearings for the shaft 28 are therefore all carried by the said movable frame 41, so that the entire end of the curtain structure at this end ofV the framing can be moved to adjust the tautness thereof.

ln order to clamp the frame 4l in its adj usted positions, depending bolts 45 are carried by the outerends of said shafts 43, and engage angle bars 46 which extend below the beams 44. By loosening nuts 47 on the ends of said bolts 45, the movable frame may be permitted to be adjusted for taking up the slack of the curtain, after which a tightening of the nuts 4'? will cause the angle bars 4G to grip the beams 44, between them and the wheels 42. At the top of the frame 4l cross bars 48 extend over the top thereof, the ends of said bars being connected by bolts 49 with the ends of the cross bars 50 upon the top of the frame 20. Nuts 5l on the upper ends of said bolts 49 aiford means for clampingthe upper end of the movable frame 4l in its adjusted positions, the same as in the case of the lower clamping means carried by the shaft 43. It will be observed that the traveling belt '7 extends sufficiently beyond the end of curtain structure to afford ample room for the adjustment of the mo"- able frame 4l, without interfering with the support and driving of the said curtain. Y

ln order to guard against a possible springing out of position of 'the bars 22 at intermediate points, the said bars 22 areV provided with inwardly projecting hool: pieces which project under and inside of the depending flange '60, of an inner guide member 6l. The said guide member 6l is mounted upon an intermediate frame portion 62, located within the curtain'structure as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing. The said hook pieces59 are merely loosely extended beneath said guide, sothat there is substantially no friction between the parts and yet any tendency of strain upon the central portions of the curtain carrying bars, is prevented from drawing the parts out of place.

It is also preferable to construct the frame with an auxiliary framing 52 upon the bach of the apparatus, the said framingconsist ing of upper and lower connectingbeams 53 and 54, extended from the main frameV 5,

Vand having vertical members with suitable braces 5o' together with horizontal bearer bars 57, providing a firm and rigid structure. This frame not only greatly increases the rigidity of the upper frame 20, but offers an excellent means for supporting' Vboards or platforms 58, upon which worlimen may stand, who are painting and providing` the desired back ground scenery upon the curtain of the device. lThe workmen may thus have access to substantially the entire inner lap of the curtain, so that a number can work upon the same at a time, andthe scenery can be changed very rapidly. rlhe curtain is moved from time to time until the scenery is completed entirely around the same.

It will be evident that many of the minor details of construction may be modified and that mechanical equivalents thereof maybe institutedlfor various parts of the apparatus, without departing in the least from the spirit of the invention.

supporting the curtain, an endless belt upon which the curtain carrying members rest, and rollers supporting the said traveling belt, whereby the traveling belt becomes the driving means for the curtain carrying members and the curtain. Y

3. A cycloramic apparatus tor furnishing a traveling scenic baci: ground, comprising an upright traveling curtain, vertical bars carrying the same, shoes upon the said bars, a traveling belt for supporting and driving the said slices, and anti-'friction means for moyably supporting the said belt.

el. A panoramic apparatus comprising a movable endless curtain'adapted to travel on its edge,A bars' carrying the same, 'flexible connecting members joining said bars, guiding and lioldingmeans at the-ends ot' the curtain for directing and supporting the said flexible members, friction shoes carried by the lower ends of said bars, and a trai/el-y ing the said bars and guiding them around the said sprocket wheels, a traveling` belt having laps driven in opposite directions beneath the laps of the curtain, the said belt to the other without friction, and means for driving the said belt. i

6. A panoramic scenic curtain mechanism comprising. an endless curtain, an endless traveling belt arranged below the edges of the curtain, end pulleys for engaging the said belt, guiding end pulleys for permitting` theV belt to pass with a proper turn around the said end pulleys, intermediate friction rollers adapted to supportthe intermediate portions ci said belt in contact with the intermediate portions oit the traveling curtain structure, and means "for driving one ot' the end pulleys ot said belt for actuating the same, and a sprocket mechanism for support ing the traveling curtain at the end curved portions thereof, where theV endless-curtainY maires its bends for returnedV movements.

7. An apparatus ot the class described comprising an endless scenic eurtain,l a name for .holding the same'in proper position, shafts in said trame at the turns of said curtain, spreading pulleys therefor', an adinstable framing carrying one of said shafts and the pulley devices thereon, whereby slackness in the curtain may be taken up, means for clamping said adjustable irame upon the main trame 'for keeping the curtain taut, and curtain driving and supporting means engaging the edgesroit the curtain for moving'it in said training. Y

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in vpresence of vtwo witnesses,

v VALTER E. SA'XE.

.lllitnessesz Y Y Y V c CAssnLL SnviiRANon, HAZEL BRUNDAGE. i 

